Method of and means for producing antislip terrazzo floorings



P. GALASSI 1,742,855

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING ANTISLIP TERRAZZO FLOORINGS Jan. 7,1930.

Filed Jan. 18. 1928 amaemtoz P2 s grad/e 6.: lass/Y Patented Jan. 7,1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PASQUALE GALASSI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING ANTISLIP TERRAZZO FLOOBINGSApplication filed January 18, 1928. Serial No. 247,617.

anti-slip properties may be conferred to the floors produced, at thesame time achieving new and pleasing decorative effects.

Terrazzo, granolithic and similar, floors 13 usually comprise afoundation bed, or layer of concrete, cement, mortar or other suitablematerial, and a superposed layer usually composed of small pieces ofmarble, mixed 'witha suitable bonding agent, such as ce- 15 ment.

After the foundation layer has been allowed to'harden to a suflicientdegree of eonsistency, it becomes possible to place in position theupper layer which is generally divided into geometrical or ornamentalunits in the form of panels or blocks which are obtained by outliningthe desired design by means of strips placed on or inserted through theunder bed, or attached thereto.

The dividing strips, which were formerly removed, haveof recent yearsbeen substituted by .thin metal strips set on edge, their upper edgesconstituting a leveling gauge I facilitating the laying of the terrazzocomposition.

I Thesestrips are left permanently in position and constitute anintegral part of the finished floor, adding to the attractiveness of thefloor by producing novel effects and at the same time localizlng suchcracks as may occur in the individual units of which the floor iscomposed. f

The strips used for this purpose are generally made of relatively softmetal such approximately the same vas those of the material'composingthe floor proper.

The strips should preferably be formed with means for anchoring them 1nposition in additipn to' laterally extending 'flanges or projections tobe used both as a gauge and as a support for the stmps when their lowerportion is inserted through the foundation layer of the floor.

Terrazzo floorings are used not only on as brass, the wearing qualitiesof which are account of the relative ease with which they can be laidand their moderate cost,*but also on account of their good wearingqualities and on account of the practically unlimited range of designand color combinations which may be produced.

However, the materials generally used in producing the upper layer offloorings of this character, are not of themselves suitable forproducing anti-slip floors, and for this reason do not afford sufficientprotection against accidents in public places, halls, etc.;

and therefore it has become customary when laying floors for publicbuildings and halls to mix with the composition ordinarily used, somematerial such as alundum; or carborundum, or emery, or other materialspossessing anti-slip properties, so that the floor itself will have agood frictional surface.

This is done, of course, in order to insure the safety of the peoplewalking upon such floors and in order to comply with buildingregulations afi'ecting such matters. However, floors thus producedalthough fairly effective in so far as their anti-slip properties areconcerned, are not entirely satisfactory in practice due to variousreasons.

To begin with the cost of the materials used is much greater than thatof the materials used in ordinary floors, and the cost of laying andfinishing the floors is also considerably higher. From the decorativestandpoint these floors are also objectionable because their appearanceis not as good as that obtained when only marble chips and cement areused, their texture being much darker, and also because they do-not takenearly as high a polish as terrazzo floorings of the ordinary type do.

Floors of this character are also objectionable from a sanitarystandpoint because they quickly collect and produce considerablequantities of dust which can only be removed in part and withconsiderable difliculty.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod of producin anti-slip floors of the terrazzo type,- where y theobjectionable features mening strip of a new and improved type'adaptedto be laid in the usual manner, .and adapted to act both as a dividingstrip and as an anti-slip element, conferring anti-slip properties tothe floor as a whole.

A further object is to provide a floor dividing strip of a novel andimproved construction, composed of a body of anti-slip material and aholding structure therefor, adapted to fulfill the functions of a floorstrip of the usual type.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fullyappear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed inthe appended claims. 1

A few embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawingswhich however, are intended for illustrative purposes only and not in alimiting sense.

Referring to said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a floor illustrating the manner in which thestrips are used;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a strip embodying myinvention;

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are similar views illustrati-ng other types ofstrips embodying my invention in different forms; and

' Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section showing a strip embodying myinvention in position and illustrating the function of the supportingand positioning means therefor.

As shown in Fig.1, a terrazzo or similar floor 10 is usually composed ofa number of panels 11, 12, systematically arranged according to apredetermineddesign defined by the dividing strips 13. In floors of theordinary type, these strips are generally made of relatively light gaugemetal, such as brass for instance, and are set on edge with their lowerpart embedded into the foundation layers of the floor and their upperedge on a level with the upper surface of the finishing layer.

As a general rule, the strips are also provided with suitable anchoringand positioning means, said positioning means being preferably adaptedto strengthen the strip in a longitudinal sense.

It has been found necessary in practice to at times impart to thesefloors, the anti-slip properties that they usually lack, but as statedbefore, themethods heretofore adopted in this respect have resulted insome changes in the characteristics of the floors treated which haveproved objectionable from several standpoints.

It is desirable, as stated, to produce antislip floors withoutdetracting from their appearance and also without excessively increasingtheir cost. The retention of the normal appearance and physicalstructure of the floor is also desirable from a sanitation standpoint,because as stated, floors of the usual type are much more easily keptclean than floors containing abrasive or anti-slip materials in theircompositions.

I have therefore conceived the idea of producing nonslip floors by usingdividing strips of an anti-slip nature, without alterln the character ofthe units or panels of whic the floor is composed. In this manner,eflective results maybe obtained in spite of the fact that the floorunits or panels per se, taken separately are just as slippery as thoseof a floor 0f the usual type.

In fact, it will be observed that the feet of a person who slipswill-travel a certain distance before the person actually falls, andthat if during that distance some spot is encountered where thefrictional resistance of the surface is sufficiently highthe movementwill be instantly stopped.

Due to the above described nature of terrazzo and similar floors, if thedividing strips are of an anti-slip character, they will effectivelycheck all slipping tendencies due to the panel portions of. the floor,and will do so throughout the entire'surfaco of the floor. Their actionin this respect will be more or less effective, 'according to the sizeof the panels delimited thereby, but it will be understood, of course,thatwhen anti-slip floors have .to be produced, it will be desirable toadopt designs calling for units or panels of relatively moderatedimensions.

' I have accordingly produced a new type of strip, consistingessentially of a lower rib portion, which can be inserted in positionthrough the foundation layer of the floor in the usual manner, and ahead portion in the form. of an open top channel adapted to receive andretaina fillin of any suitable material possessing anti-s ip properties.For

instance, a filling of leadmay be used, or an aggregate of lead andcarborundum, or alundum or any other composition, the surface1flrictional resistance of which is sufiiciently igh. I

Strips embodying my invention may be produced in a great variety ofsections and designs, illustrated in the drawings. The strip illustratedin Fig. 2 for instance, may be produced and a. number of sfich designsare by rolling or drawing or extrusion processes,

sl jrface flush with the upper edges of sides 1 18.

The rib portion, as usual, is preferably provided with supporting andpositioning means, such as for instance, the laterally extending flange21, the under surface of which is at a distance from the upper surfaceof the strip, equivalent to the thickne'ss of the upper layer of thefloor. This arrangement aiiords convenient means for quickly laying thestrips in position, by inserting the lower part of the rib portionthrough the foundation layer of the floor after it has reached thedesired consistency, to a depth where flange 21 reaches and is supportedby said foundation layer.

This automatically establishes the proper depth or thickness of thefinishing layer which is poured in position so as to reach the level ofthe upper surface of the strips, and also insures correct verticalalignment of the strips. Flange 21 furthermore, in-

' creases the rigidity of the strip by strengthening it in alongitudinal direction and permits the use of a relatively light sectionof metal through the rib portion. if desired, the strip'may be formedwith two lateral flanges instead of one, thenddit-ional flange beingshown in dotted lines at 21.

Practically the same type of strip may be produced out of sheet metal,as shown in 3, where it will be noted that the structure i formed out ofan originally fiat metal s strip of suiiicient width bent at the lowerend 22, to form two adjoining upwardly directed sections 23, 2e, forminthe lower part of the rib portion of the strip. Section 23 continuesupwardly up to a point 24' where it is bent outwardly and then laterallyup to a point 25 where it is bent upwardly and inwardly to form side 26of the channeled head portion. Section 2% when reaching a point 25' at adistance from the upper surface of the strip equivalent to the thicknessor depth of the finishing layer of the floor, is bent outwardly to apoint 26, forming the outer edge oi the flange 27 and then once moreinwardly to a point 28 adjoining the other section 23.

At this point, the section is once more bent upwardly to a pointadjoining point 24 and then it is bent outwardly to a point 29 tocomplete the bottom portion of the channeled head and then upwardly andinwardly to form side 30 of said channeled head. The two sections of therib portion of the strip are preferably joined together in any suitablemanner, for instance, by means of spaced male and female riveted ointsas shown at 31.

The resulting structure is the equivalent of the one previouslydescribed, inasmuch as ie two sides 26, 30 of its head portion form likein the previous case, a dovetailed channel or housing 31 within whichthe anti-slip material may be placed and retained. The dovetailedsection oi the channel or housing is,

of course, desirable in order to securely hold in position the anti-slipmaterial at all times.

In Fig. at, 1 illustrate a strip somewhat similar to that justdescribed, which however, only comprises a channel head portion 32retaining an anti-slip filling or core 33 and a rib portion 34:originally formed flat on both sides, without the flange previouslydescribed.

In this type of strip, the anchoring or positioning means are obtaineddirectly from the rib portion by laterally offsetting the materialcomposing the same at spaced intervals. .For instance, in the typeillustrated, the rib portion is longitudinally slit at a suitabledistance from the top of the strip at intervals as shown at 35, 36,-andthe anchoring means are produced by laterally ofi'setting a certainportion of the material, extending downwardly from each slit so as toform cup like laterally extending portions 37, the outer surface ofwhich is inclined downwardly and inwardly towards the strip from thepoint of maximum lateral extension.

'lhese odset portions act at the same time to bind the two sections ofwhich the rib portion is composed to each other, and due to their designthey reinforce rather than wea n en the section the strip. This type ofstrip is somewhat less expensive than the one previously described, dueto the saving of mat rial'eiiected by omitting the laterally extendingflange.

Asimilar idea also been employed in the strip shown in Fig. 5,comprising as hetore a channeled head portion 38 and a rib portion 39where laterally extending lugs or ears 40 are formed at spaced intervalsby punching out and laterally bending the ma terial from the ribportion, as shown.

A still dirl'erent construction of strip is shown in Fig. 6. In the samethe strip comprises two side portions ll, 42, bent in the form ofchannel sections having outwardly directed web portions l3-ll, d5i6, theupper web portions 43, 45, being further bent upwardly and inwardly toform sides 47, d8, of the channeled head portion. The sectionaldimensions of said two strip portions are such. that when the twosidesll, 4:8 or the head are at the proper distance from each other, thetwo ribs oi the strip sections are separated by a clearance throughwhich may be inserted a fiat strip 4:2,projecting downwardlytherefrom-and "forming the rib portion proper of the strip.

The three parts mentioned, composing the shell portion of the strip arejoined together in any suitable manner, for instance, by means oflongitudinally spaced rivets and the resulting structure is a striphaving as before, a head portion adapted to receive and retain a fillingor core of anti-slip H12;- terial, a-lower rib portion adapted forinsertion through the foundation layer oi the ill) lid-fl floor and twolaterally extending flanges 44, 46, forming the supporting, positioningand anchoring means for the strip.

A strip of this character may be produced most economically, because itpermits the use of. a relativel inexpensive material for its ribportion. or ornamental and structural reasons, floor dividing strips areusually made of brass, but if a chest er metal is used for its ribportion, a consi erable saving in the cost of material ma be effected.

The way in which the strip is used is illustrated in Fig. 7, where 51designates the lower layer of the floor space on the floor foundation52, 53 designates the upper or finishing layer, and 54 designates thestrip which is of the type illustrated in Fig. 3. It

will be observed that the lower surface of its laterally extendingflange 55 rests directly on the upper surface of the lower layer of thefloor, thus acting as supporting and positioning means for the strip.

It will also be observe that the upper edges of the two sides of thehead ortion of the strip of the upper surface of t e core or filling 56retained. therebetween, are flushwith the upper surface of the floor,sothat the anti-sllp properties of the core 56 are fully effective. I

A strip of the character described, provides as stated, an effective andconvenient means for producing anti-slip floors and furthermore it alsoaffords means for producing new and effective decorative designs. Thisis especially due to the fact that by virtue of the difierencein colorbetween the metal out of which the strip proper is made, and

ner, or core or filling or head, associated or integral therewith,providing the desired anti-slip properties. The invention is entirelyinde endent of the particular manner in which tfietwo parts of which thestrip is composed are united or formed and the drawings will beunderstood as being intended for purposes of illustration only and notin a limiting sense.

I accordingly reserve myself the right to carry my invention intopractice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A divider strip for terrazzo floors or the like, built in unit form,comprising a relatively narrow long metal frame adapted to separateadjoining panels of a terrazzo or similar floor, said frame having anopen top chamber and a filling therefor of anti-slip material, the uppersurface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surfaceof said strip.

strip, and a relatively narrow rib 2. A divider strip for terrazzofloors or the like, built in unit form, comprising-a relatively narrowlong metal frame adapted to separate adjoiningpanels of a terrazzo orsimilar floor, said frame having an open top.

chamber running throu hout the length thereof, and a filling there or,of anti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling. beingsubstantially level with the upper surface of said strip.

3. A divider strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprisinga headportion formed with an open top chamber, running throughout the ace ofsaid length of. the strip, a filling therefor of antislip material, theupper surface of said filling being substantially level with the uppersurface of said strip, and a relatively narrow rib portion dependingfrom said head portion.

5. A divider stri for terrazzo floors or'the like, comprising a eadportion formed with an open top chamber, running throu hout the lengthof the strip, ,a filling there or. of anti-slip material, the uppersurface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surfaceof said strip,=a relatively narrow rib portion depending from said headportion, and anchoring means'integral with said rib portion. a I

6; A divided strip forjerrazzo floors or the like, comprising a headportion formed with an open top chamber, running throughout the lengthof the strip, a filling therefor 'of antislip material, the'uppersurface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surfaceof said strip, a relatively narrow rib portion depending from said headportion, and

v anchoring means integral with andlaterally projecting from said ribportion.

7 A divider. strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprising a headportion, formed with an open top chamber having a dovetailed section,running throughout the length of the strip, a filling therefor, ofanti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling beingsubstantially level with the upper surface of said portion dependingfrom said head portion.

8. A divider strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprising a headportion, formed with an open top chamber having a dovetailed sectionrunning throughout the length of the strip, a filling therefor, ofanti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling beingsubstantially level with the upper surface of said strip, a relativelynarrow rib portion depend-' ing from said head portion, and anchoringmeans integral with and laterally projecting from said rib portion.

9. A divider strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprising a headportion, formed with an open top chamber having a dovetailed sectionrunning throughout the length of the strip, a filling therefor, ofanti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling beingsubstantially level with the upper surface of said strip, a relativelynarrow rib portion depending from said head portion, and anchoring meansintegral with and laterally projecting from said rib portion.

10. A terrazzo or similar floor comprising a body of floor composition,and a plurality of relatively long, narrow strips dividing said floorinto a plurality of units or panels in a predetermined arrangement, theupper part of said strips consisting of a metallic memher having an opentop chamber, and a filling therefor of anti-slip material, the uppersurface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surfaceof said strips.

11. A terrazzo or similar floor comprising a body of floor compositionhaving a comparatively slippery surface and including means for reducingthe slippery character of the floor comprising strips for dividing saidfloor surface into comparatively small sections, said strips includinganti-slip material substantially flush with the surface of the floor.

PASQUALE GALASSI.

